Samir Nasri says Arsenal will not be intimidated by Chelsea's strength

Arsenal will take inspiration from Barcelona’s victory over Chelsea in last year’s Champions League semi-final when the Gunners meet their London neighbours.

The game at Stamford Bridge has been caricatured as a lightweight team against a collection of heavyweights. But Arsenal’s Samir Nasri insists they will not be overwhelmed again by the physical superiority of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and John Terry, as they were in the 3-0 home defeat in November.

No fear: Samir Nasri says Arsenal will not be overwhelmed by Chelsea's physicality

And he takes issue with the former Gunners manager George Graham, who has criticised current boss Arsene Wenger for copying Barca’s passing style.

With Arsenal’s title hopes seemingly dependent on at least gaining a draw at Chelsea, Nasri said: ‘Physical strength is very important, but if we are able to compensate for this deficiency through our technique, like Barcelona, I can’t see where the problem is. Look at Xavi and Andres Iniesta, they are not physical monsters.’

However, Arsenal will have to erase the psychological damage of last weekend’s 3-1 defeat by Manchester United at the Emirates, which is part of a humiliating eight-game run against United and Chelsea in which Arsenal have lost seven and drawn the other.